Cleveland County Recorder Information

Land records in Cleveland County are recorded by the Register of Deeds. The office is held by Betsy S. Harnage.

Searchable real property index from 01/03/1995 to present; new unverified searchable index from 01/01/1945 to 12/31/1994; searchable plat index (starting with Plat Bk 19) from 05/16/1995 to present. Records prior to 1995 are unverified. Vital records must be researched in the office.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: G.S. 161-10 Uniform fees of registers of deeds · Register of Deeds · Search Available Land Records

These government fees are separate from any Deeds.com service fees. Confirm current charges with the recorder's office.

Other charges

Fee schedule effective July 1, 2024.

StatewideFees are uniform throughout the State and are complete and exclusive. A document consisting of multiple instruments is charged an additional $10.00 for each additional instrument; a deed of trust or mortgage containing additional instruments is charged $10.00 for each additional instrument. Certified copies are $5.00 for the first page plus $2.00 for each additional page. Plats are $21.00 per sheet or page. Uncertified copy fees are set by each register of deeds and must be uniform and prominently posted. Fees are collected prior to filing or registration.

Highway right of way plans are $21.00 for the first page and $5.00 for additional pages. Uncertified plat copies are $3.50; certified plat copies are $5.00. Faxing, emailing, or mailing is $3.00 per document for the first 15 pages, then $0.25 each additional page.

Transfer tax

Excise tax on instruments conveying real property. One dollar ($1.00) on each five hundred dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof of the consideration or value of the interest conveyed. The tax is collected when the document is recorded. (statewide, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 105-228.30(a))

StatewideThe excise tax is paid to the register of deeds of the county in which the real estate is located before recording the instrument of conveyance; for a parcel lying in two or more counties, it is paid in the county in which the greater part of the real estate with respect to value lies. The tax applies to timber deeds and contracts for the sale of standing timber. Some counties levy their own land transfer tax under local acts; those are stated on the local office's page.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: G.S. 161-10 Uniform fees of registers of deeds · G.S. 105-228.30 Imposition of excise tax · Cleveland County Schedule, Register of Deeds 2024-2025

Confirm current requirements with the recorder's office before submitting documents.

StatewideThe type of instrument must be stated at the top of the first page. Instruments presented on paper that do not meet the standards are registered after collection of the nonstandard document fee; a register of deeds may waive that fee for print smaller than 9 points if the instrument is legible. The standards do not apply to instruments conforming to G.S. 25-9-521 or certified copies of court-filed documents.

Submitting documents

Plats are accepted by e-recording; the office should be called for how to obtain review officer and administrator signatures for that process. The physical address for overnight requests is Register of Deeds, 311 E Marion St, Room 151, Shelby, NC 28150. No additional charge applies for scheduling a FedEx pickup.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: G.S. 161-14 Registration of instruments · Frequently Asked Question · Record Land Records